Miss Niue 2008
Ms Michelle Marsh was proudly crowned Miss Niue 2008 in June, capping a spectacular show supported by the entire community and attended by hundreds of locals.
As part of the contest, each contestant wore outfits made of traditional materials that they created themselves with the help of their family and friends. Relying on traditional materials, the variety of designs and constructions was dazzling, and every contestant rightfully beamed with pride (as did their family!).
The winner, Michelle, had previously been a Miss Teen Niue in 1999 before completing a Bachelor of Marine Biology at the University of South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.
She has chosen to stay in Niue where she currently works in the Department of Fisheries, using her education to gather information on Niue's marine life and fish stocks to ensure greater knowledge and wise stewardship of this precious resource.
Village Show Days
If possible, try to coordinate your visit with one of the 14 annual village show-day festivals. Scheduling cannot be precise, but it’s a memorable experience of dance, food, handcrafts & fun.
Niuean women are modest artists whose incredible weaving is renowned for its artistry & skill. You don’t have to buy anything to form wonderful friendships, but if you’re going to relent & purchase something, do it fast. These rare works are not mass-produced for souvenir shops & frequently vanish quickly.
Generally a large ‘umu’ or earth oven is prepared by villagers, and pigs and chicken are cooked alongside root vegetables and other local delicacies of game, fish and fruit – it’s the ideal place to sample a wide variety of fabulous traditional food.
For the latest confirmed dates, check the Events Calendar or contact the Niue Tourism Office.
Traditional Niuean Commemorations
This gives a powerful insight into just how incredibly welcoming and safe Niue is to visitors.
Most world communities are very closed about private ceremonies but Niueans openly embrace the presence of ‘strangers’ even during these most traditional events. Both are of immense importance to Niueans, as they mark a child’s ‘coming of age’ – spiritually if not literally, since it can happen at any point of a child’s life. These ceremonies are private in meaning but open to all, and Niueans generally welcome tourists even as on-lookers if they wish to observe.
The traditional ceremeny for a teenage boy is his ‘Haircutting’ ceremony, when the long tail of hair that he has kept since childhood is removed. Guests invited to the concurrent feast each contribute hundreds of dollars to a fund that goes to the boy after the celebration costs are paid.
For girls there is a similar ‘Ear Piercing’ ceremony. These gatherings are usually held on a Saturday in private homes.
So for an unforgettable and moving experience, and to savour life at village level, make sure you go! It’ll weave you into the fabric of Niuean life in a way that nothing else can.
For details on what may be taking place while you’re in Niue, do check the Events Calendar or contact the Niue Tourism Office.
Christian Churches
Niueans are a proudly Christian people, and many denominations are represented within Niue. Three quarters of Niueans give their allegiance Protestant Niue Ekalesia Church, and the remainder are a mix of Catholic, Latter Day Saints, Jehovahs Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and Baha'i.
All visitors are welcome to attend all services, and please check with the Niue Tourism Office for locations and service times.
Even if not a practicing churchgoer, a Polynesian Church service is an uplifting and wonderful experience enjoyed by almost everybody!
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